[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 13319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5359]



[[Page 13319]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Information Collection Being Submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for Emergency Review and Approval

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3502-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on the following information collection(s). Comments are requested 
concerning: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Commission, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) 
ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small 
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
    The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. No person 
shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection 
of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does 
not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be 
submitted on or before April 5, 2012. If you anticipate that you will 
be submitting PRA comments, but find it difficult to do so within the 
period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the FCC 
contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Submit your PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), via fax at 202-395-5167 or via Internet at 
[email protected] and to Judith B. Herman, Federal 
Communications Commission, via the Internet at [email protected]. 
To submit your PRA comments by email send them to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith B. Herman, Office of Managing 
Director, FCC, at 202-418-0214.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission is requesting emergency OMB 
processing of the new information collection requirements contained in 
this notice. The Commission is requesting OMB approval by March 30, 
2012.
    OMB Control Number: 3060-0819.
    Title: Sections 54.400 through 54.707, Lifeline Assistance 
(Lifeline) Connection Assistance (Link-Up) Reporting Worksheet and 
Instructions.
    Form No.: FCC Form 497.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Individuals or households and business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 13,500,940 respondents; 40,035,705 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: .25 hours to 50 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On Occasion, Biennially, Monthly, and Annual 
reporting requirements, third party disclosure requirements and 
recordkeeping requirements.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. Sections 1, 4(i), 201-205, 214, 254, and 403 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
    Total Annual Burden: 30,729,935 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: N/A.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: The Commission is not 
requesting that respondents submit confidential information to the 
Commission. We note that USAC must preserve the confidentiality of all 
data obtained from respondents and contributors to the universal 
service support program mechanism; must not use the data except for the 
purposes of administering the universal service program; and must not 
disclose data in company-specific form unless directed to do so by the 
Commission.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this revised information 
collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during this 30 
day comment period in order to obtain emergency approval from them. The 
Commission is requesting emergency OMB approval for this revised 
information collection by March 30, 2012.
    This collection of information is critical to the prevention of 
waste, fraud and abuse of the Universal Service Fund (USF or Fund). 
Among other things, the Lifeline Reform Report and Order, (Order), FCC 
12-11, adopts rules to eliminate waste and inefficiency, increase 
accountability, and transition the Fund from supporting stand-alone 
telephone service to broadband. The reforms adopted in the Order 
substantially strengthen protections against waste, fraud, and abuse; 
improve program administration and accountability; improve enrollment 
and consumer disclosures, and constrain the growth of the program in 
order to reduce the burden on all who contribute to the Fund. The 
Commission has set a budget target to eliminate $200 million in waste 
in 2012, which is dependent on certain rules going into effect as soon 
as possible. Among other things, the Commission has revised the FCC 
Form 497; incorporate the information collection requirements contained 
in OMB Control Number 3060-0774 into this information collection; 
removed or consolidated all low-income requirements requiring approval 
or revision into this submission; revised the certification of 
eligibility upon enrollment; revised annual reporting requirements; 
revised verification of continued eligibility (now referred to as 
Annual Recertification of Consumer Eligibility; revised resolution of 
duplicative claims; and adopt maintenance of National Lifeline 
Accountability database. Therefore, it is essential that the OMB grant 
this request for emergency processing of this revised information 
collection.

Federal Communications Commission.
Bulah P. Wheeler,
Deputy Manager, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-5359 Filed 3-5-12; 8:45 am]
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